Physiological Effects of Stress Response on Working Memory
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Date
2019Author
Carpenter, Hannah
Holtebeck, Emily
Schwarz, Megan
Virtues, Holly
Piro, Zach
Publisher
Journal of Advanced Student Sciences (JASS)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
There is currently little scientific consensus on the effects of stress on working memory.
This paper sought to assess the immediate impact of a stressful startle stimulus on subjects’
working memory. While monitoring heart rate, respiration, and skin conductance, subjects in the
treatment group (n=21) performed a working memory test that was followed by an unexpected
scream and frightening image. Control subjects (n=18) did not receive the startle stimulus, but a
“thank you” message. After receiving the startle stimulus or “thank you” message, subjects
completed the working memory test again. The physiological metrics revealed a significant
difference in heart rate (p=0.0002) and respiratory rate (p=0.0001) between treatment and control
groups. However, there was no significant difference between skin conductance and memory test
performance, with both control and treatment groups showing an average score increase of 2.72
and 2.33 in test scores respectively. While the startle stimulus appeared to evoke a stress
response (seen by an increase in heart rate and respiratory rate), the similar performance of
control and treatment memory tests suggests no relationship between stress and working
memory.
Subject
Working Memory
Respiration
Heart Rate
Electrodermal Activity
Startle Stimulus
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/81994Description
An article that appeared in JASS, issue 2019